Disgust and support shown for Nichols

June Casagrande

The discussion was more emotional than any that has taken place in

council chambers in the past two years. There was disgust with Dick

Nichols’ comments, outrage at political correctness and assertions

that Latinos harm the beach simply with their presence.

A majority of the 49 people who spoke at Tuesday’s council meeting

were not Newport Beach residents. A majority of the speakers

supported Nichols.

White conservative Republicans came out to praise him. Mexicans

came out to rail against him. And the room roared with applause after

every speaker, with one camp applauding Nichols’ supporters and

another applauding his detractors.

“Your vicious attack on Mr. Nichols for a statement of fact

clearly violates his First Amendment rights,” Huntington Beach

resident Barbara Coe told the council.

“Mr. Nichols’ only crime was to tell the truth,” Santa Ana

resident Lupe Moreno said.

Other speakers said that Mexicans in the area pose a problem.

“It’s a heartbreaking reality at Corona del Mar State Beach,”

South Orange County resident Todd McAndrew said. “Your beach has been

overrun by Mexicans.”

A Costa Mesa resident referred to Mexicans at Corona del Mar State

Beach as “criminal invaders from Mexico.” A Corona del Mar resident

called for sweeps of the beach by the federal Immigration and

Naturalization Service. The INS was absorbed by the Department of

Homeland Security in March and its functions spread among various

bureaus.

Another speaker said that Hispanic groups are mobilizing to take

back California, Arizona and New Mexico. Still another said that such

Hispanic organizations have communist ties.

As the evening went on, a lineup of primarily pro-Nichols speakers

gave way to one that included more Newport Beach residents opposed to

his comments. Two who spoke out against Nichols said that they had

been watching the council meeting on TV and felt compelled to come

down and make it known that many Newport Beach residents disapprove

of Nichols’ comments as racist.

“I’m embarrassed to have a bigot on this council,” said Craig

McGowan, a Newport Beach resident. “Who cares if one group enjoys the

beach? Who cares? If it was American white people using the beach all

day, you wouldn’t have commented.”

“I voted for Dick Nichols and I regret that very deeply,” said one

resident who vowed to support Nichols’ recall.

Businessman Lloyd Ikerd is leading movement to oust Nichols

through a recall process similar to the one against Gov. Gray Davis.